Gray’s Downtown Development Authority continued to look at funding options during last week’s meeting for moving the Gray Station Railroad Depot.

Georgia Department of Community Affairs representative Lynn Ashcraft said she was checking with the USDA about the possibility of a grant. She said some of the other counties she represents have moved and/or renovated their depots, and she is looking into how they funded the project.

Ashcraft said she has been talking with DCA Design Studio Manager Carmine Fischetti and suggested setting a date for him to visit Gray.

DDA member Bert King asked Ashcraft how the authority would go about designating an area as blighted, and she said the city would have to take the first step. The benefit of a blighted area is more state and federal grants are available for improvements.

Councilman David Tufts said, after the property has been identified, the owners would be given an opportunity to improve their property before it would be designated as blighted.

Main Street Gray Manager Jennifer Baggarly said Forsyth adopted a policy of increasing taxes on blighted properties to cover the cost of having to deal with them.